Buhari in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina commended the Liberian people on the peaceful conduct of the presidential run-off election. "We're going to make history, like the children of South Africa did", said Josephine Davies, vice president of the youth wing of Weah's Congress for Democratic Change.

Mr Weah's critics argued that his lack of political experience makes him unequipped for Liberia's top job.

Liberia, a nation founded by freed American slaves, is seeing its first democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years as Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Prize victor, steps down.

Weah responded: "I am honoured to join a new generation of heads of state".

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the ex-star striker's victory in a tweet on Friday. "We have a lot to do to accelerate the construction of Africa's future". Apart from finishing as top scorer for the Italian giants during his first spell, he finished as the UEFA Champions League top goalscorer with seven goals a season eariler with Paris Saint-Germain.

The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, also congratulated Weah on Twitter and wished him "much success".

Mr Weah will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as president next month.

Weah was raised in Clara Town, a poor suburb of Monrovia, and played football across the river in West Point, Liberia's biggest informal settlement, where he still commands a large following.

He will take office in January.

Weah, who entered politics after retiring from football in 2002, easily beat his rival Vice President Joseph Boakai in Thursday's run-off vote.

Joseph Boakai in an address to the nation on Friday is offering to help Weah's new government if needed.

Chairman of the commission, Mr Jerome Korkoya, made the declaration after announcing the final results of the December 26 presidential runoff election at the NEC headquarters in Monrovia.

Weah is due to be sworn in on January 22, taking over from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who in 2006 took over the country founded by freed U.S. slaves. He is the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year.

In the country's first democratic transition in more than 70 years - with 98.1 per cent of the vote counted - Mr Weah led with 61.5 per cent to Vice-President Joseph Boakai's 38.5 per cent, National Elections Commission chairman Jerome Korkoyah said on Thursday. A military coup took place in 1980 and a 14-year civil war ended in 2003.

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